Inked ribbon



Dec. 27, 1949 J. A. L. MLLER INKED RIBBON Filed April 30, 1947 Mmm/raf? Jfaaa 0245/7 Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES INKED RIBBON Jacob A. L. Mller, Rye, N. Y., assignor to Manifold Supplies Company, Brooklyn, N'. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 30,

11 Claims. l

The present invention relates to improved inked ribbons, and, more particularly, to improved ribbons for typewriter machines, billing machines and the like, and improved processes of producing the same.

Heretofore, it has been well known that a great variety of inked ribbons have been proposed and some actually have been used. Of the prior ribbons, those of a silktype possessed certain advantages but also had certain shortcomings and disadvantages. Various attempts were made to overcome the shortcomings and disadvantages, but none of such attempts was wholly satisfactory and successful especially when carried into practice on an industrial scale for the production of commercial articles.

It has been discovered that the shortcomings and disadvantages of the prior inked ribbons can be avoided and that a novel ribbon can be produced which will satisfy the requirements of the art.

The invention likewise contemplates the provision of an inked ribbon, particularly of the silk type, which can be manufactured with machinery on an industrial scale for production of a commercial article.

Moreover, the invention provides a typewriter ribbon, particularly of the silk type, which has a practical and usable thinness which has a skip weave with a silk face and a cotton back and which still possesses a substantial reservoir of ink.

Furthermore, it is also within the contemplation of the invention to provide a unique type-v writer ribbon having a novel combination of elements and features.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved inked ribbon possessing a working face having smoothness and sheen, possessing substantial uniformity throughout its length, and possessing increased strength over prior ribbons.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a reproduction of a photomicrograph taken at magniiications of a portion of the improved inked ribbon illustrating the novel combination of elements and features embodying the present invention; and v Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at 40 magnifications.

1947, Serial N0. 744,849

larly to Fig. 2, the reference character W designates the warp threads and the reference character F the ller or weft threads. In practice it has been discovered that novel results can be obtained by utilizing a mixture of nylon threads and silk threads for the warp threads and long, staple cotton yarn for the weft threads. I have found that the skip weave must be used for best results. By a skip weave I mean one in which the warp or weft threads or filaments skip two or more of the other threads or filaments. From comprehensive' tests, it has been discovered that the silk threads and nylon threads are preferably disposed across the face of the typewriter type and softer, slightly coarser and moderately spaced cotton threads are run up and down with the type, thus giving a finer and smoother writing surface. As a result of the discovery, it was found that the novel construction embodying the 20 present invention was especially adapted to conform to the configuration of the typewriter type. Thus, the face of typewriter type being greater in height than in width, it was found essential to arrange the weave to have numerous bers or fine yarns running across the face from right to left in order to reduce as much as possible the undesirable fabric marks in the printed type on the paper. Generally speaking, type such as used on a typewriter consists of one or two or usually at most three perpendicular portions or lines with comparatively short lines or curves. By utilizing the improved weave embodying the present invention in a typewriter ribbon, the finest possible and greatest number of yarns are provided across the perpendicular parts of the type characters and softer, slightly coarser and moderately spaced cotton threads or yarns are disposed up and down with the perpendicular parts of the type. In practice, the silk threads and nylon threads are used for the warp yarns and the cotton as the weft or filling yarns. In conducting research on typewriter ribbons and the like of the character described herein, it was further discovered that the nylon threads must be woven in the ribbon Y at least two in every nine threads. As those skilled in the art know, the cloth is woven as wide as forty (40) inches and must be slit into ribbons after weaving. When a typewriter ribbon and the 50 like is manufactured to embody the present invention, it has been found that such a ribbon has good ink-carrying capacity with increased strength over prior ribbons of the plain or skip weave, possesses greater ink-carrying capacity Referring to the drawings and more particu- 56 than a silk ribbon, discharges ink more complete'- 1y than plain silk, retains its edge better without ravelling than prior ribbons made wholly or mainly of synthetic fibers such as nylon, possesses longer life, and gives better service in use. In practice, it has been found that best results are obtained when nylon varies broadly from about toabout 15% by weight of the entirerbbon, silk varies from about 38% -to about 48% by Weight and cotton from about 39% to about 49% by weight, and preferably from about 12% -to about 141/2% of nylon, about 40% to about `45% of silk and about 39% to about 45% cotton. Ihe best commercial product mad-e on an industrial scale contains about 131/2% nylon, about 43 l/2% silk, and about 43% cotton.

The manufacture of the ribbons ycan fbeconducted in any appropriate manner. However, .in making up the silk yarn, it is preferred to take raw silk from a plurality of bales in order to "blend it and Cthen subject the proper A-riufriber of l.abnit 100 F. after 'which the surplus oil isfre- Yinoved in -a spinning" basket.

The 'silkV is 'il-rst impregnated Ywith the oi-l and then rsubseqiien'tly itheeke'ess oil is eliminated from' the basket by jspin-ningor rotating it. As a -result of experiment,

it lh-as been'found preferable to use suchbills as Jolivei'oil, cocoanut -oil and the like. Other o'ils'such as neats-footo'iL .and sulphonated o'ils and the like ymaybe used.

"In weaving the web of material, a -sufcien't number of isilk warp yarns are then beamed. This is preferably effected in a manner welliknow'n to those skilled in 'the art. The loom on which kthe iWeb is Ywoven is not the plain over andunder type, lbut it `is arranged so that the harness of the loom lifts and drops the warp yarn at regular but .pre-determined intervalsL-staggered to Iproduce .a web of fabric that has mostof the on the face .and most of .the cotton in the back .without loss of firmness. In .connection vwith the weft yarn, ,a high'grade, Ylightly twisted; 'longe staple cotton is used which is obtained on cops :from which it is `yvoundon to the -spool which goes into the bobbinof-the loom, as those skilled in the .art evil-l readily understand. itispreferred to make up the warp using at least two nylon threads in every nine Warp-threads, the remainder ,of which are pure silk. rlhe threads of nylon should have .about the same thickness a- S the -silk threads. is repeated across the ent-ire width of the fabric. The arrangement of the warp to produce the smoothest possible `surface while still maintaining s-uqient firmness in the woven fabric, is to `have each Warpthread, which forms kthe Ismootlri surface, pass Linder @ne weft thread and then over four,repeating this arrangement throughout the length of the :piece with every set of four warp yarns or threads. follows the same scheme of under one and over four but the arrangement is staggered so that no two adjacent warp threads follow the Ysame identical course over and under the weft threads.

so doing, a new type of ribbon is produced-havingthe most desirable combination of unusual strength, resiliency, and supcrsmoothne'ss of sifirfacel` Y "After Weaving the web Of febr-lait is essential tdfhave it finished. ,It has been Yfound that satisfactory results can be obtained by eliminating the outer layer of ceresin from the silk. In

,In practice,

lThis arrangement l.of nine The warp thread next to it .granted to George Pel-ton.

carrying this operation to practice, it has been found that great care must be taken not to overboil nor to underboil. In underboiling an objectionable stiff ceresin layer would be left surrounding the core of pure silk partially or Wholly which would reduce the ink absorbency of the fabric, and overboiling the raw :silk .would be attacked and would "be weakened. The foregoing finishing operations are rather delicate and must be conlducted. with the greatest of care.

vAfter the finishing operation, the web of fabric is put through a calender stack which is heated, yancl'j-the web fof fabric is steamed to dampen it. In this manner, it is practical to iron out the *web 'fiat and smooth. After the calendering operation, 'or before as well, if preferred, the web of fabric is very carefully singed on both sides to `burnof any projecting ends of fiber, particularly the ends of cotton, and especially those that might `protrude beyond the face -of the fabric. Under certain circumstances, it is pref erred to vsinge the web 4of .fabric :both before .and after the calendering operation.

The web of fabric can now be slit and yedged a ribbon .machine to produce satinized ribbon. After slitting and edging, the satinized ribbon can be inked in the conventional manner.

-Upon completion of the inking operation, the inked .ribbon is vcut to lengths and is then rolled `on the usual typewriter lreels and the like.

It cis lto be observed that the present invention provides a novel inkedribbon, such as -a ltypewriter ribbon, -which'possesses advantages over prior `ribbons and which is not to be confused with the plain skip weave ribbon which 'is dis- -closed in U. S. Patent No. 1,830,620 which lwa Although the present invention has been de .scribed in .conjunction with preferred embodin ments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted kto without departing from the spirit of :the invention, as those skilfiledin the art will readily understand. Thus, instead of using a cut edge on the ribbon, a woven edge may be used. Similarly, 1in place of nylon threads, `,other equivalent threads having similar properties, such as vinyl plastic threads sold under the name Vinyon, may be used.

' :I claim:

1. As an improved article of manufacture, a typewriter ribbon and the like having a silk face and a cotton back and Vcomprising an inked Woven .fabric made of a staggered weave having at least two nylon threads in every nine warp threads, the remainder being silk and having the weft threads composed of cotton, thereby providing better conformation to the configuration of type, greater reduction of undesirable fabric marks, greater ink-carrying capacity, greater strength, greater discharge of ink, and greater edge retention without rayeling than prior ribbons.

2:.,As an improved article of manufacture, a typewriter ribbon and the like having a silk face and a cotton back and comprising an inked woven fabric made of a staggered Weave having at least two nylon threads in every nine warp threads, the remainder being'pure silk substantially devoid rof ceresin and having the weft threads composed of lightly twisted, long staple cotton, thereby providing better conformation to the configuration of type, greater reduction Vof undesirable fabric marks', greater' ink-carrying i capacity, greater strength, greater discharge of ink, and greater 4edge retention without raveling than prior ribbons. -v Y Y 3. As an improved article of manufacture, a typewriter ribbon and the like having a silk face and a cotton back and comprising an inked woven fabric made of a staggered weave having at least two nylon threads in every nine warp threads, the remainder being silk and having the weft threads composed of cotton, each Warp thread passing under one weft thread and then over four, thereby providing Abetter conformation to the configuration of type, greater reduction of undesirable fabric marks, greater ink-carrying capacity, greater strength, greater discharge of ink, and greater edge retention without raveling than prior ribbons. Y

4. As an improved article of manufacture, a typewriter ribbon and. the like having a silk face and a cotton back and comprising an inked woven fabric made of a staggered weave having at least two nylon threads in every nine Warp threads, the remainder being silk and having the weft threads composed of cotton, said nylon constituting from about to about 15% by weight of the ribbon, said silk constituting from about 38% to about 48%, and said cotton constituting from about 39% to about 49%, thereby providing better conformation to the configuration of type, greater reduction ofl undesirable fabric marks, greater ink-carrying capacity, greater strength, greater discharge of ink, and greater edge retention without raveling than prior ribbons.

5. As an improved article of manufacture, a typewriter ribbon and the like having a silk face and a cotton back and comprising an inked woven fabric made of a staggered weave having at least two nylon threads in every nine Warp threads, the remainder being silk and having the weft threads composed of cotton, said nylon constituting from about 12% to about 141% by weight of the ribbon, said silk constituting from about 40% to about 45%, and said cotton constituting from about 39% to about 45%, thereby providing better conformation to the configuration of type, greater reduction of undesirable fabric marks, greater ink-carrying capacity, greater strength, greater discharge of ink, and )greater edge retention without raveling than prior ribbons.

6. As an improved article of manufacture, a typewriter ribbon and the like having a silk face and a cotton back and comprising an inked woven fabric made of a staggered Weave having an least two nylon threads in every nine warp threads, the remainder being silk and having the weft threads composed of cotton, said nylon constituting from about 131A% by weight of the ribbon, said silk constituting about 431/%, and said cotton constituting about 43%, thereby providing better conformation to the configuration of type, greater reduction of undesirable fabric marks, greater ink-carrying capacity, greater strength, greater discharge of ink, and greater edge retention without raveling than prior ribbons.

rI. In the manufacture of an improved typewriter ribbon and the like having a staggered weave, that improvement which comprises blending raw silk from a plurality of bales, subjecting a selected number of silk filaments to a very light twist in making up the warp yarn, treating the silk warps with oil, weaving a web of fabric with cotton wefts and said silk warps supplemented with nylon warps, to produce a staggered weave, finishing the web of fabric including eliminating the outer layer of ceresin from the silk without overboiling or underboiling, calendering the thus-finished web of fabric to iron out the same flat and smooth, slitting the calendered web into ribbons, edging the slit ribbons, and inking the edged ribbons for use in the typewriter and the like, whereby an improved ribbon is produced having asilk face and a cotton back and having better conformation to the configuration of type, greater reduction -of undesirable fabricr marks, greater ink-carrying capacity, greater strength, greater discharge of ink, and greater edge retention Without raveling than prior ribbons.

8. In the manufacture ofan improved type writer ribbon and the like havinga staggered weave, that improvement which comprises blending raw silk from a plurality of bales, subjecting a selected number of silk filaments to a very light twist in making up the Warp yarn, treating the silk warps with oil, weaving a web of fabric with cotton wefts and said silk warps supplemented with nylon warps, to produce a staggered Weave, said nylon constituting from about 10% to about 15% by Weight of the ribbon, said silk constituting from about 38% to about 48%, and said cotton constituting from about 39% to about 49%, finishing the webfof fabric including eliminating the outer layer of ceresin from the silk without overboiling or underboiling, calendering the thus-finished web of fabric to iron out the same iiat and smooth, slitting the calendered web into ribbons, edging the slit ribbons, and inking the edged ribbons for use in the typewriter and the like, whereby an improved ribbon is produced having a silk face and a cotton back and having better conformation to the configuration of type, greater reduction of undesirable fabric marks, greater ink-carrying capacity, greater strength, greater discharge of ink, and greater edge retention without raveling than prior ribbons.

9. In the manufacture of an improved typewriter ribbon and the like having a staggered weave, that improvement which comprises blending raw silk from a plurality of bales, subjecting a selected number of silk filaments to a very light twist in making up the Warp yarn, treating the silk fibres with oil, Weaving a web of fabric with cotton wefts and said silk warps supplemented with nylon warps, to produce a stag- Agered weave, said nylon constituting from about 12% to about 141/2 by weight of the ribbon, said silk constituting from about 40% to about 45%, and said cotton constituting from about 39% to about 45%, nishing the web of fabric including eliminating the outer layer of ceresin from the silk without overboiling or underboiling, calendering the thus-finished web of fabric to iron out the same flat and smooth, slitting the calendered web into ribbons, edging the slit ribbons, and inking the edged ribbons for use in the typewriter and the like, whereby an improved ribbon is produced having a silk face and a cotton back and having better conformation to the conf-lguration of type, greater reduction of undesirable fabric marks, greater ink-carrying capacity, greater strength, greater discharge of ink, and greater edge retention Without raveling than prior ribbons.

10. In the manufacture of an improved typewriter ribbon and the like having a staggered weave, that improvement which comprises blending raw silk from a plurality of bales, subjecting a selected number of silk filaments to a very light twist in making up the warpyarn, treating the silk bres with oil, weaving a web of fabric with cotton wefts and said silk warps supplemented with nylon warps, to produce a staggered weave, said nylon constituting about 131/2% by weight of the ribbon, said silk constituting about 431/2670, and said cotton constituting about 43%, nishing the web of fabric including eliminating the outer layer of ceresin from the silk without overboiling or underboiling, calendering the thus-finished web of fabric to iron out the same flat and smooth, slitting the calendered web into ribbons, edging the slit ribbon, and inking the edged ribbons for use in the typewriter and the like, whereby an improved ribbon is produced having a silk face and a cotton back and having better conformation to the configuration of type, greater reduction of undesirable fabric marks, greater ink-carrying capacity, greater strength, greater discharge of ink, and greater edge retention without raveling than prior ribbons.

11. In the manufacture of an improved typewriter ribbon and the like having a staggered weave, that improvement which comprises blending raw silk from a plurality of bales, subjecting a selected number of silk filaments to a very light twist in making up the warp yarn, treating the silk warps with oil, weaving a web of fabric with cotton wefts and said silk warps supplemented with nylon warps to produce a staggered weave, each warp thread passing under one weft thread nd then over four, finishing the web of fabric -including eliminating the outer layer of ceresin from the silk without overboiling or underboiling, calendering the thus-iinished web of fabric to iron out the same flat and smooth, slitting the calendered web into ribbons, edging the slit ribbons, and inking the edged ribbons for use in the typewriter and the like, whereby an improved ribbon is produced having a silk face and a cotton back and having better conformation to the configuration of type, greater reduction of undesirable fabric marks, greater ink-carrying capacity, greater strength, greater discharge of ink, and greater edge retention without raveling than prior ribbons.

JACOB A. L. MLLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,320,634 Mller Nov. 4, 1919 1,830,620 Pelton Nov. 3, 1931 2,066,416 Neidich Jan. 5, 1937 2,130,948 Carothers Sept. 20, 1938 

